Cliff just one win away from title

Cliff just one win away from title

By
Geoff Jones

FOLLOWING their 12-2 victory over West Moors, a win next week would see Boscombe Cliff regain the Section One title. Moors – already relegated – put up solid resistance, only losing 75-71 in the final tally.

Knyveton Gardens kept their championship aspirations alive with a 10-4 (70.75-64) win at Lymington. They too had to dig in to overcome wins by Lymo skips Ken Streek (19-15) and Roy Richardson (17-15). The Gardeners responded through Dave Baxter (19-18) and Dave Hart’s squad, who won 21.75-10 after Hart was unable to play the last two ends.

Alexandra Park continued their revival with an 86-67 win over Poole Park. Mike Stapleton’s last-end 20-18 win gave Alex 12 points after Alan Trevett, Alan Stockley, Dave Hodgkiss and Paul King (27-11) had put their side in the driving seat. Norman Dames’s quartet (26-13) salvaged two points for the Dolphins.

There was a humdinger of a finish at Branksome Park where a five-shot pick-up by Bournemouth skip Gerry Potts (22-20) earned the Meyrick marauders an 8-6 win. Bournemouth captain Kevin Saunders collected a last-end 18-18 tie to level the match 80-80. Paul Tidby (22-18) was the Squirrels’ only winning skip.

• It stayed tight at the top of Section Two after pacemakers New Milton crashed on all four rinks to a revitalised Fordingbridge. Stan White, Cyril Copp, Brian Cuckson and Bob Mellors (36-10) once again received the garlands as the Turks went on the rampage to win 100-54.

Wimborne jumped into top spot following their 10-4 win at Electric. Jim Garrett’s posse of Brian Shepherd, Denis King and Eric Curry (24-14) were too hot to handle for the Sparkies, who went down 82-80.

Boscombe Cliff A are now just five points from safety after collecting 12 points at Pelhams. Don Hamilton, Tony Hansford, Hugh Sissons and Roy Lock (23-14) featured in Cliff’s 86-64 win. Pelhams’ Bob Robins (20-19) denied the visitors a maximum haul.

Swanmore restricted promotion hopefuls Southbourne A to nine points. Chris Eames, David Wilkinson, Chris Broomfield and Malcolm Teagle (28-10) made it a 78-65 victory for the Tower men by covering Swans’ two winning rinks.

• Braeside were assured promotion from Section Three after defeating their A team 12-2. Bob Carpenter (28-21) denied his club-mates a full house but a 24-11 return from Derek Baber, Ted Spiby, Brian Wrightson and Colin Seale ensured the first-team of an 87-74 victory.

Poole Park remained in the title hunt after a comfortable 10-4 (85-74) win over relegation-threatened Moordown. Barry Gauge, Andy Richardson, John Cresswell and Denis Fletcher (28-18) starred for the Dolphins.

Richmond Park’s hopes of promotion faded after they returned from Highcliffe with just two points. Trevor Welch, Bill Watson, Bill Berry and John Irons (35-14) were the main contributors to Highcliffe’s 98-76 win.

West Moors A moved off the bottom rung by demolishing Redhill Park 97-54. The anchormen in the Moors’ 97-54 victory were Les Irvine, John March, David Stratton and Albert Hewitt (33-11).

• Argyll stayed clear at the top of Section Four after their 12-2 win at Wimborne. The East Cliff combo of Bill Taylor, Colin Harrison, Mark Howard and John Robertson (24-12) laid the foundations for Argyll’s 75-59 victory.

Poole Park B also collected 12 points on their travels. The Dolphins’ stormed to a 94-52 win at Ferndown, with Mick Wallis, Maurice Bower, Adrian Dicker and Ron Newbury (30-9) playing the star turn.

Christchurch moved into mid-table security after Richard Reeks, Gavin Smith, Norman Webster and Mike Poore (28-7) put the Priorites on course for an 11-3 (85-65) win over day-trippers Swanage.

Milford-on-Sea and New Milton A swapped league positions after the Seasiders romped to a 12-2 (89-59) win over the Forest dwellers. Milford’s star performers were Howard Farmer, Derek Newell, Allan Edmonds and Tim Capron (29-13).

• Southbourne secured promotion from Section Five with a 12-2 success at Ringwood and spoilt the 90th birthday celebration of Foresters’ regular player Aubrey Howard. The main party poopers were John Morgan, John Wilkinson, Neil Ward and Larry Cox (30-14) who spurred the Tower men on to win 86-60.

Meanwhile, Highcliffe will also be going up following their 14-0 (81-64) win at Broadstone-Wessex. Top return for the Castle men came from Adrian Cuthill, Mike Luker, Graham Davies and Peter Haworth (21-12).

Boscombe Cliff B are making a last-ditch stand to avoid the wooden spoon. They defeated Lymington A 11-3 (87-64) with Evan Stimpson, John Simmons, Mike Stainer and John Smith (31-7) taking the plaudits.

• Branksome Park B stayed top of Section Six following their 10-4 triumph at Iford Bridge. Roger Aspray’s squad of Tony Wade, Richard Cooper and Wally Barker (21-14) called the shots for the Squirrels to win 74-73.

Swanmore A and Argyll A are closing in fast, however. The Swans edged a 10-4 (71-65) win at Southbourne, with top honours going to Roy Honan, Geoff Harradine, Colin Brooke and Gordon Parker (23-15).

And Argyll kept their promotion hopes alive with an 11-3 (80-66) victory over Wimborne B. Alan Garland (19-17) supplied the only comfort for the Minster men, whereas Alan Godfrey, Ed Wiles, Geoff Halstead and Roy Thompson (24-14) played the starring role for Argyll.

Ferndown A collected all 14 points from their visit to Poole Park C. Len Hughes, Shaun Morrisey, Andy Davies and Paul Hallett (22-13) made the main contribution to the Stags’ 78-56 success.

Richmond Park A look to finish in mid-table following their 12-2 (80-64) win over Kings Park A. Bolstered by experience, the quartet of Colin Johnson, John Jenner, Martin Devine and Wally Draper (28-11) steered HQ past the post.

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